Operation Sagar Kavach, the bi-annual maritime security exercise which was introduced after the 26/11 terror attacks, will be carried out later this month.

A senior officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the exercise will be carried out on April 29 and
30 across the city's coastline wherein policemen carrying arms and ammunition will be sent as decoys across several points.

"We expect our maritime agencies to be able to detect and apprehend the decoys," the officer said.

Operation Sagar Kavach assumes importance considering that the terrorists who executed the 26/11 terror attacks on November 26, 2008, gained entry into the city through the sea in south Mumbai.

Mumbai police commissioner Satyapal Singh convened a meeting on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the finer details of the operation that was attended by zonal deputy commissioners and additional commissioners of police across the city.

During Operation Sagar Kavach, the Mumbai police will join other maritime security agencies like the coast guard and the navy for the join-maritime exercise.

Trained policemen dressed in civilian clothes have been chosen to carry arms and ammunition, breach the maritime security and reach the city's shore.

The preparedness of the security agencies depends on whether they can apprehend these decoy policemen or not. In case there is a security breach, the police would then conduct an enquiry to find out the reason behind the lapses and initiate measures to rectify it.

This exercise is to be carried out a few times in a year to ensure that the maritime agencies, including local police stations that have a coastal area under its jurisdiction are in a state of preparedness when it comes to the city's coastal security.